Ben Donich

Hill: Ben Donich
Category: Corbett
Height: 847
Well there is no doubt Autumn has arrived as a blast of very fresh cool air greeted us as the Ayr OIR met up for the walk to Ben Donich. The advantage of the crisp weather was the cracking blue skies that gave us fantastic views. I have blogged this hill recently so simply posting some snaps this time. 
The new aspect of today’s walk was the descent where rather than back down the ascent route we went cross country heading for the Cowal Way junction near The Brack. A slippery grassy descent zig zagging to avoid the crags and the deep gashes in the rocks. Stunning views and enjoyable.
Another great walk in super company on a cracking day.
    

The start of the walk looking back to Loch Restil

Ben Donich a rugged but short climb

Beinn an Lochain behind left Beinn Luibhean back right

One of the geese skeins, Pink footed I think?

Beinn Ime now in view far right

Sitting on the edge

The cairn at point 516m The Cobbler now included

Beinn Ime through the gap

Rest and be Thankful looks a long way down

Wildlife: Raven, Skeins of geese,
Time: 4.25
Ascent: 731m
Distance: 10.8km

Ben Donich V2

As I posted a walk report on this hill from the recce just a couple of weeks ago I have left the words to a minimum and just posted some snaps.

Out with the Kilmarnock Ramblers today for the ascent of Ben Donich. In contrast to the recce  there were no clouds, the skies were clear blue and the visibility was fantastic, you could literally see for miles and miles.

Sitting at the top for lunch and the vista included the hills of Arran, the Paps of Jura and the hills of Mull, all with only turning your head a fraction. Turn a bit more and Cruachan and the Dalmally horseshoe. 
Throw in all the local stuff and it was a day to remember, absolutely stunning. I thought yesterday on Durisdeer was good but this went up a notch.
A great walk in great company, better than watching the telly. On the scrambly bit one or two might have preferred the telly, lol.
Snaps in no particular order.

Time to move on after coffee break

Rugged and rough terrain

Descending just before the scramble

Luibhean in front, Ime behind left, Narnain right and Cobbler flanks

Same group shot lower down

Single file ascent

Derek on the edge!

Ben Lomond in distance, The Brack fore right

Loch Restil with its Corbett guards

Same shot lower down

Cloudy but atmospheric Ben Donich

Hill: Ben Donich

Category: Corbett, 

Height: 847m

It was a damp cloudy start to our walk but the forecast was for a bright afternoon so off we plodded up Ben Donich. We drive past the controversial £9 a day Arrochar car park, only 3 vehicles there, how much money is being lost by the Councils greed?

Track all the way Ben Donich in cloud

We began at the beginning of the usual track but beware further on were timber logging lorries, big beasts, so no parking up there.

Ben Donich can be seen from here, at least partially as you can see from the snap above. The cloud hiding the tops.

There is a straightforward path to follow almost all the way up. The path becomes much boggier and is well eroded in places particularly as it climbs the lower slopes. 

Loch Restil

An opportunity to take have a pause and look back where are good views back over the Rest and Be Thankful to Loch Restil, with Beinn an Lochain towering above it.

Muddy track summit still in cloud

Still cloudy ahead as the path takes a winding route up the grassy slopes. Here there are many more rocky slabs which are greasy so care needs to be taken. Walkhighlands warns of rocky fissures - narrow slit-like openings in the ground, some of which are very deep and indeed they are. Although easily avoided in summer they could cause a hazard if hidden by snow or just a loss of concentration.

Looking back to the short scramble

We have now reached the short downwards scramble, again care is taken as the rock is wet and slippy, harder to descend than ascend on the way back. 

After this there is a steep section of path which climbs up another grassy slope to reach the beginning of the summit plateau.

Sunlight at Loch Long

No views ahead as the misty conditions only let us see the tops from time to time but no long distance high views but the light on the hills near Loch Long is stunning..

Trig appears

Easier walking and before you know it the trig appears out of the gloom. 1 hour 53 min from the car.

Only a brief stop up here as it is too windy and nae views.

The Brack

We retreat a little to have some food and luckily the clouds come and go giving us glimpses of the neighbouring Corbett’s, The Brack and Cnoc Coinnich. A pair of ravens swirl above but no extras for them. The temperature suddenly drops and fingers become very painful, time for gloves on.

As we descend you can see how close to the edge one of the paths is as it meanders.

Beinn Ime behind Luibhean

Ahead of us we get our first sightings of the summit of Beinn Luibhean in the foreground and behind Beinn Ime which has a dusting of snow and The Cobbler shows itself.

The descent gives us a full view of Beinn an Lochain, we will be there soon, trying to work out a descent route to the Rest and be thankful. Of which the landslip repair work is still ongoing, not sure where the reputed £100m has been spent.

A good short walk for a winter's day.

Wildlife: just the ravens.

Time: 3.58

Ascent: 651m

Distance: 7.9km